The Teammate

37 - Breathing Without You

December 2024 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The sun was setting as Arabella, her brother, and all her roommates took their seats along the Sunset Lounge viewing area in Abu Dhabi. Arabella and her brother had been invited to watch from the Red Bull garage but instead she'd decided to join her friends in the viewing area that overlooked the pitlane, the start-finish straight and had a good view of 4 of the racing turns.

She'd denied their invitation, partly because she didn't want to mess with either of their heads, but secondly she didn't want to run into Lando. Not that she expected him to have a reaction to her, he proved that the night before, but she didn't want play into whatever plan Red Bull did or didn't have when it came to her affect on the McLaren driver.

It became obvious they had some sort of plan when Lando was seated with them at the gala. She was sure that Max didn't have anything to do with it, at least 90% sure, but she wouldn't put it past the rest of the Red Bull team.

It's the same reason she left her Red Bull shirt at the hotel and had gone for a plain white tank top, khaki shorts and a burnt orange cotton button up which had only one button done up. With her sunglasses on, she slipped from the sunset lounge viewing and down to the paddock as the national anthem wrapped up and the drivers started towards their cars.

She'd planned to do it as soon as she arrived in the paddock, but each time she tried, the image of Lando's eyes from the night before passed through her, until she decided waiting for him to be out of the garage was the best time to do it.

No one paid her any attention as she walked into the McLaren motorhome, most of the people still mingling around were here as guests, or they were taking in the last few minutes of peace before the race started. Only two, wearing McLaren polos looked surprised to see her, and one happened to be the one she was looking for. Smiling, Arabella walked up to Lando's assistant.

"Arabella." She looked startled to see her, even blinking a few times like she thought she wasn't real. "He's not here, he's..." She started to point off towards the track.

"I know." She cut her off. "I'm actually here to see you."

"Me?" Her finger turned into herself. "What can I help you with?" She didn't look too pleased to see her, a little annoyed almost but Arabella didn't let that stop her.

"I was hoping you could do something for me." At that, the woman crossed her arms over her chest and popped a hip. Her displeased look deepening.

"Look, if he doesn't want to see you. I have to respect that."

"I know, I know, I don't want to see him." She took a deep breath, pushing her nerves away. She needed to do this. Not just for her, but for him. "I just want you to give him this." She held out an envelope to her, but Lando's assistant eyed it like it was a bomb.

Which maybe it was.

"We made a bet about the championship, so, if he does what we all know he will today. Then give him this, if not, you can burn it." Her eyes almost lit up at that. Tentatively she took the envelope from her.

"I'll let him know about it, but I can't promise he'll open it."

"That's fine." She admitted, but her heart ached a little at that. Arabella couldn't imagine him not opening it, but then again maybe she didn't know him as well as she thought she did.

At least not anymore.

On lap 26 of 58, Lando pulled his car around another turn, the Red Bull of Max Verstappen close behind him. His tired were degrading, causing his grip to go, but if he could just make it a few more laps with Max behind him he'd be in better shape after his pit stop. His engineer's goal had been to make it to at least lap 29, that would put their pitstop at least halfway through the race and allow him to put on a softer compound for his second stint.